This blog post was written by Made Pramana, a Bronchiectasis patient living in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia.

I first learned of COPD360social (the online community for COPD) when it launched in late 2014. I registered immediately after learning of COPD360social and have been active since then. As an individual living with bronchiectasis, I was extremely happy for the launch of BronchandNTM360social. These platforms allow me to connect with people who know about (and live with) these diseases. I am able to share many things such as my health condition, daily activities and experiences (good and bad), and seek feedback from other people like me. I feel gratified to have the opportunity to share these things about myself and receive the much-needed support back from the community. Additionally, sharing my experiences on these online communities has helped me talk about and explain my disease to family and friends.

I’ve come to the realization that these online communities are not solely learning about health conditions and problems; they’re much more than that. They allow me to learn about other people’s lives and how they cope with similar situations. I get to discover other participants’ daily activities, exercise, hobbies, and travel experiences. Members have encouraged me to explore different ways to enjoy life, despite my disease.

It is difficult for me to put all of these emotions into words. When I am actively engaging on 360social I feel connected. I feel grateful for the support I receive through these networks, and I sincerely hope others feel the same.